CHAPTERS
- 0:00 – 1:07
Buckley’s viral spinning back-kick KO and how it actually happened
Joe opens by crediting Joaquin Buckley with one of the most viral knockouts in MMA history: the jump spinning back kick while the opponent held his leg. Buckley explains it was the first time he’d ever done it in a fight and sets up the backstory for how he developed that technique.
- •Rogan frames the KO as potentially the most viral highlight in MMA
- •Buckley compares it to other iconic KOs (Hendo, Barboza, Ngannou)
- •Key detail: opponent was holding one foot when Buckley launched the kick
- •Buckley says he’d never landed that kick in a fight before
- •Teases that nobody “taught” him the kick—self-developed
- 1:07 – 3:10
Self-taught striking: learning kicks from YouTube, Rogan/GSP clips, and Raymond Daniels
Buckley describes building his striking vocabulary by studying multiple martial arts styles online. He credits watching Joe Rogan’s instructional content with GSP and then leveling up by copying Raymond Daniels’ “two-touch” style mechanics on the heavy bag.
- •Early MMA gym had limited instruction; Buckley sought knowledge elsewhere
- •Studied Taekwondo, Hapkido, Kyokushin, Sanshou concepts via YouTube
- •Watched Rogan teaching GSP spinning back kick mechanics
- •Inspired by Raymond Daniels’ highlight-reel techniques
- •Practiced bag “two-touch” propulsion and power generation for years
- 3:10 – 6:34
Old-school kicking legends: Michael Jai White, Bill ‘Superfoot’ Wallace, and front-leg mastery
Rogan and Buckley geek out over elite kicking instruction and classic kickboxing/karate icons. They break down why Superfoot Wallace’s one-leg emphasis produced extraordinary dexterity and discuss how styles evolve when facing leg kicks.
- •Michael Jai White praised for crisp traditional kicking technique
- •Bill ‘Superfoot’ Wallace: one-leg game, hook kick, and speed
- •Superfoot’s injury-driven adaptation and front-leg weaponization
- •Discussion of how point-style fighters handle Muay Thai leg kicks
- •Examples: Rick Rufus, Peter ‘Sugarfoot’ Cunningham and cross-style success
- 6:34 – 9:40
Movies as martial arts ‘male role models’ and Buckley’s late start in formal training
Buckley explains that martial arts movies weren’t just entertainment—they were his entry point and a substitute for male mentorship growing up. He details how he finally began real coaching at 18 and why wrestling became his first accessible foundation.
- •Raised by a single mother; TV and films became major influences
- •Heroes: Bruce Lee, Jackie Chan, Donnie Yen, Tony Jaa, Michael Jai White
- •First real MMA gym coaching at 18 (post-high school)
- •Wrestling chosen as the closest free, structured martial art in school
- •He saw wrestling as the key base for future MMA fighting
- 9:40 – 11:00
Early amateur MMA in Missouri: rule sets, matchmaking, and gym development problems
Buckley describes how quickly he fought after starting training—within about 9–10 months—and what amateur MMA looked like in St. Louis at the time. He and Rogan discuss inconsistent development pathways and how many gyms still struggle with building fighters correctly.
- •First fight came ~9–10 months into training; amateur MMA bout
- •Amateur rules: no elbows, no knees to head, no heel hooks; fought “like a pro” otherwise
- •Matchmaking felt less structured in 2012; experience levels varied
- •Buckley argues many MMA gyms still lack proper development systems
- •Many amateurs fought primarily to ‘get a feel’ for competition
- 11:00 – 14:12
Small gym vs mega gym: structure, safety, and individualized coaching
Rogan and Buckley compare the benefits of large ‘factory’ gyms to smaller, tightly coached teams. Buckley argues repetition and discipline on fundamentals plus personalized attention can outperform the chaos of unsupervised hard sparring at big gyms.
- •Smaller gyms can provide tailored attention and controlled progression
- •Buckley emphasizes drilling basics until they become instinct
- •Critique: big gyms often become ‘everyone doing their own thing’
- •Risk at mega gyms: unsupervised rounds and ‘sink or swim’ culture
- •Need for structured pairing (amateurs shouldn’t be fed to elite pros)
- 14:12 – 17:35
Buckley’s team setup: wrestling academy roots, conditioning, and practical jiu-jitsu coaching
Buckley outlines how his training is distributed across specialists: MMA leadership, high-level wrestling instruction, conditioning, and jiu-jitsu. He argues passion and daily study can make an effective coach even without a black belt, especially when the system is consistent and fight-relevant.
- •Introduces head coach and the gym/training structure (SAWT Academy focus)
- •Wrestling support from accomplished coaches (Simmons brothers)
- •Strength/conditioning at Human Performance Institute with an ex-NFL coach
- •Jiu-jitsu coach is not a black belt but is highly committed and analytical
- •Claims this approach translated into winning against a ‘big gym’ opponent
- 17:35 – 20:02
From highlight hunting to championship mindset: winning vs entertaining (and the Izzy debate begins)
Buckley explains he initially prioritized exciting striking to earn bonuses and attention, even when grappling would have improved his odds. That evolves into a broader discussion of ‘boring’ fighting, mastery, and how champions like Adesanya win strategically.
- •Buckley admits earlier mindset: excitement and ‘third check’ bonuses
- •Examples: choosing to strike vs Kevin Holland; letting opponents up to keep it standing
- •Shift in goal: from entertainment-first to ‘becoming a winner’/champion
- •Rogan defends strategic fighting against ‘boring’ criticisms
- •Izzy/Floyd examples: defensive mastery and risk management
- 20:02 – 35:22
Dropping to 170: weight realities, size disadvantages at 185, and how to beat elite champs
Buckley confirms he’s moving to welterweight after one more fight at 185 and explains why he’s naturally better suited there. The conversation expands into how to pressure Adesanya, the risks of engaging a counter-striker, and why ‘you must take the belt’ from champions.
- •Buckley announces decision to go down to 170 after Chris Curtis fight
- •Reveals he’s often lighter than people assume; has even walked into 185 fights at 185
- •Discusses huge middleweights (Pereira, Cannonier) and size/length tradeoffs
- •Game-planning vs Izzy: pressure, angles, boxing range, and mixing takedowns
- •‘Take the belt’ philosophy vs razor-thin decisions and judging controversies
- 35:22 – 40:17
Weight-cut chaos & matchmaking: Khamzat/Diaz shake-up, catchweights, and who gets screwed
Rogan and Buckley revisit the UFC 279 reshuffle and why it looked like a conspiracy even if it wasn’t. They break down the logic behind catchweights, late changes, and why certain fighters (like Li Jingliang) can end up disadvantaged by the chaos.
- •Khamzat missing weight triggers card-wide rearrangements
- •Buckley questions why certain fights were set at 180 in the first place
- •Rogan describes behind-the-scenes chaos and Dana’s reaction
- •They agree the reshuffled card ended up stronger overall
- •Li Jingliang seen as getting the worst end of the deal due to weight dynamics
- 40:17 – 51:40
Welterweight killers and division identity: Shavkat, Geoff Neal, and the ‘missing personalities’
The conversation pivots to the depth of 170: under-the-radar talent and stylistic threats. Buckley argues the division lacks self-promotion despite elite skill, then they discuss matchups, momentum, and why some fighters become ‘real champions’ after leveling up mentally.
- •Praise for Shavkat Rakhmonov as an all-around finisher and major threat
- •Geoff Neal’s comeback story (health issues, personal life, regained form)
- •Buckley critiques 170’s lack of personalities despite stacked talent
- •Talks about champions’ confidence shifts (Aljamain Sterling example)
- •Sets stage for Buckley’s future move into a crowded, dangerous division
- 51:40 – 1:04:30
Injuries, brutal combat sports, and ‘real fights’: surgeries, bare-knuckle, street fighting, and security work
Buckley details major UFC-era injuries and surgeries, including orbital reconstruction, and compares that controlled danger to the uncontrolled violence of street fights. They react to underground concrete fights, debate glove padding, and Buckley shares lessons from years working security about awareness and de-escalation.
- •Buckley lists major injuries/surgeries: ACL/meniscus tears, orbital fracture with implant
- •Discussion of shocking facial fractures (Sage Northcutt, Cyborg vs MVP)
- •Bare-knuckle boxing: higher damage, different psychology, long-term health costs
- •Underground ‘King of the Streets’ concrete fights as extreme ‘real fight’ example
- •Buckley’s security-job stories: no rules, weapons, awareness, de-escalation, and why the cage feels calmer
- 1:04:30 – 2:27:57
Career planning: Chris Curtis fight, fast-tracked title shots (Pereira), boxing ambitions, and the ‘master plan’
Buckley lays out short- and long-term plans: beat Chris Curtis, move to 170, target meaningful names, and potentially transition into boxing with a realistic development timeline. They analyze Adesanya vs Pereira dynamics (size, five rounds, weight cut) and close on how one big moment can catapult a career.
- •Buckley commits to Chris Curtis at 185, then a full move to 170
- •Recounts almost fighting Alex Pereira and why the fight fell through (time/weight cut)
- •Predicts Izzy vs Pereira may be cautious/low-output due to KO threats and Pereira’s cut
- •Boxing interest: acknowledges it requires years and dedicated coaching to be legit
- •Mentions contract status, strategic future moves, and emphasizes career ‘moments’ as accelerators
